Do Re MiC D E

Straighten Up And Fly Right

Cole-Mills4/4medium-swing
G/G♭
G/F
G/E♭
G/C
G/G♭
G/F
G/E♭
G/C
G/G♭
G/F
G/E♭
G/C
G/G♭
G/F
G/E♭
G/C
%
%
%
%
G/G♭
G/F
G/E♭
G/C
G/G♭
G/F
G/E♭
G/C

Chord Diagrams — Straighten Up And Fly Right in G (Guitar)

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Straighten Up And Fly Right in G

Key of G

G major is the singer-songwriter's key. The open G, B, and D strings spell out the full G major triad with zero fretting. Add the open high E for a Gadd6 shimmer. Nearly every diatonic chord (Em, Am, C, D) has a comfortable open voicing. G is a beginner-level key on guitar because the open G, B, and D strings form a complete G major triad without fretting a single note, and the open low E adds a rich 6th color. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through G to G (ascending unison), G to G (ascending unison), G to G (ascending unison), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to A (ascending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to B (ascending major third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth). The root motion by larger intervals (fourths and fifths) gives each chord change a strong, decisive character. When the progression loops, the bass returns from A to G by whole step.

Scales for Improvisation

G major pentatonic works because every note is either a chord tone or a safe passing tone — there are no avoid notes. For soloing, this means you can play freely without clashing. Over dominant seventh chords, G Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

medium-swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: ACD

Chords: G, G/G♭, G/F, G/E♭, C, G/C, Am7, D7, Am6, G6, B7, E7, A7.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G